Digest of the Early Connecticut Probate Records
(Hartford District),
Charles W. Manwaring,
Hartford, 1902,
Vol 1, p 592

Capt. James WELLES, sen., Haddam. Invt. £422-19-06. Taken 5 Jan 1697-8, by John SMITH, Daniel X BRAINARD & Timothy X SPENCER. The children: James WELLES, Thomas 15 years, Elizabeth SMITH, Mary ARNOLD, & Susannah WELLES. Relict, Elizabeth WELLES (?). Will dated 9 Jun 1690.

I James WELLES sen. of Haddam, being employed in the Country Service, doe think it my duty to set my worldly affairs in some Order. Item. It is my Will that my wife shall have my Homelott & House, and one of the 3-acre Lotts on the East side of the Great River, and my upper Lott in the Meadow, during her Widowhood; and if she marry again, then all to return to my son James. My son James shall have my Dwelling house & Homelott & all the Land on the West side of the Great River, and all my Land in the Upper Meadow, & all my Rights on the Plaine on the East side of the Great River, he not claiming any right at Machamoodus. And my Will is that my son Thomas WELLES shall have my Cow Meadow Lott, & all my Rights at Machamoodus. My son James shall have all my Moveables of Stock and all other things not above disposed of, and he my son James to pay to my daughter Elizabeth £10 besides what she hath already had. And to pay my 2 daughters, Mary & Susannah WELLES, when them come of age, £15 apeice.

James X WELLES

Witness: George GATES, Thomas GATES.

Court Record, Page 44 -- 22 Jun 1698: The last Will & Testament of Capt. James WELLES exhibited in Court, and Capt. George GATES made Oath that the Teastor did in their presence sign & declare it to be his last Will. Accepted, proven, & ordered to be recorded. There being no Executor expressed by Will, this Court grant Adms. to James WELLES to preform the Will of the Deceased.